Staffing, Allowances and Audit

I employ the following people:-

• An Office manager employed four days a week who inter alia acts as my paying agent, keeps the accounts, pays salaries, PAYE, national Insurance, pension contributions etc.
• A full time secretary/ PA who is my wife and who earns in the £20,000-30,000pa salary range.
• A full time researcher/EP diary manager who is aided by another full -time researcher who is generally on a six month contract.
• A part-time person responsible for the care and maintenance of my UK office.
• A service provider who liaises with regional stakeholders and organises events on a two days a week basis  and a second service provider who acts as a press officer on one day a week basis.
• From time to time I also have students gaining work experience.
• Jointly with other Labour MEPs I also employ a political liaison officer based in London, who is line managed by the EPLP Secretary General.

The expenditure of Labour MEPs' general expenditure and secretarial allowances is reviewed through an audit process carried out by an independent qualified accountant who provides the EPLP with a signed letter testifying that the allowances have been spent in accordance with the Parliament rules and the EPLP's own guidelines.

http://www.eurolabour.org.uk/topics/2465.html

The Auditors' certificate, showing that Gary's books are all in order can be viewed here

If you have questions regarding Gary's views on the auditing of accounts and expenses for MEPs please refer to this link: http://www.eplp.org.uk/news/2417.html

Please also refer to the following:

European Parliamentary Labour Party guidance note on use of Member's Allowances

Principles for Staff Contracts